Palmetto Sandwich Shop, 1465 Sumter Street: 31 March 2010 9 comments
Well, today marked the end of another Columbia institution that I somehow never managed to visit. In this case I attribute it to not spending any time downtown coupled with the parking issue, but that's no real excuse, I suppose.
The details were in the Free Times a few weeks back. It seems that SCANA's exit was a factor, as with some other places.
The Palmetto Sandwich Shop was on Sumter street just across from the old RCPL location and the YMCA. This is actually a much-restauranted block, and I was surprised to find Greek Boys, Palmetto Sandwich Shop, some new restaurant setting up, Miyo's and Quizno's all together like that. 26 years is an eternity in restaurant terms, so they made a good run of it, and they made a classy exit with the "Gone Fishin'" banner.
UPDATE 4 May 2010: Replaced the shot of the menu with a clearer one.
9 Responses to 'Palmetto Sandwich Shop, 1465 Sumter Street: 31 March 2010'
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Jonathan
1 Apr 10 at 8:20 am
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Parking shouldn't have been an issue. They were on the ground floor of the Sumter Street garage! Cheaper than a meter.
I grabbed lunch there once, since it is around the corner from the office. The sandwhich was fine. I can remember what I got, which maybe tells you something.
PSS was a typical office-park type deli. No thrills, basic offerings. Up until the past 5 years, there were not a lot of lunch options within walking distance of downtown if you wanted to get takeaway. In later years, there are quite a few places that offer more than a basic sandwich selection. Of course, that all changes after 4:00 on a weekday afternoon....
Steve
1 Apr 10 at 9:45 am
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Huh. I saw the garage entrance/exit, but it never occurred to me that it was a public facility. I guess I'm kind of blind to garages in Columbia. I do notice them when I'm in Charleston...
ted
1 Apr 10 at 10:46 am
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Too many folks think there is no parking downtown. That isn't true. On-street parking is limited. However, there are a number of public city-owned garages all within a block of Main Street that have plenty of available space and are cheap compared to using a meter. Unfortunately, most Columbians won't consider parking in a garage. Heck, you should see folks trolling for an on-street space in the Vista, when there is huge, nice garage behind the Hilton and one off Washington and Lincoln, both of which are a block and a half off Gervais!
By the way, the Main Street garages are no-charge in the evenings (after 6:00)!
Steve
1 Apr 10 at 11:04 pm
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Nope, I had no idea any of that existed..
ted
1 Apr 10 at 11:27 pm
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IIRC, The Palmetto Sandwich Shop was a spin-off of Shealy's Sandwiches. They opened almost simultaneously with SCE&G's move into the Palmetto Center from the previous location on Main/Catawba.
The main distinction between Shealy's and this place was the way they took your order. Shealy's had all the folks who individually took orders while The Palmetto SS operated more like Wendy's used to - i.e. a single file line w/ one register. I imagine the limited space may have had a lot to do with that.
I was an intern at SCE&G during the summer of '84 and ate here quite often as I really liked their burgers. I didn't make it downtown often since then, but when I did, I'd always swing by for a burger. Seemed like the same lady took orders and the same guy was cooking burgers for at least 10-15 years... maybe more.
I wonder if they'll follow SCE&G over to Cayce?
E.J.
2 Apr 10 at 5:07 am
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They made a great grilled cheese sandwich and a good hamburger. They wouldn't take credit cards but had an ATM machine. I guess now one will have to go to Gotham to get an overpriced sandwich downtown.
Walter
3 Apr 10 at 6:18 pm
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My stepfather ate there 3 times a week for
20+ years .. he loved it .. the guy that owned it
was sort of a “Namby Pamby”, bitchy type, when
I had dealings w/ him .. I think my SD had allegiance
there due to some family ties ... I ate there and it was
fine .. but … “the times, they are a’ changin’” …fish
19 Apr 10 at 7:25 pm
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They had great burgers and fries. I was on Sumter Street the other day and I think this is the location that had a sign up about a restaurant coming soon called "Crepes et Croissants."
Ali
1 Mar 12 at 10:40 am
It's been a long time since I've eaten there, but I do agree that Boar's Head Cold Cuts Make The Best Sandwiches. There is no argument there. I wonder if the artist that painted the mural also painted No Name Deli. They are very similar.